ABOUT: Milan Salone

While commonly known as "Milan Salone" in Japan, its official name is "Salone Internazionale del Mobile." Established in 1961 by the Italian furniture cooperative "Cosmit" to promote furniture during the post-war reconstruction, it has now reached its 52nd year. The main venue, "Fiera," is akin to Tokyo's Big Sight, but with an exhibition area of approximately 210,000 square meters, nearly three times the size of Big Sight's 80,000 square meters. It attracts 320,000 to 330,000 visitors annually. In contrast, the approximately 800 exhibitions held throughout Milan city are collectively known as "Fuori Salone." Compared to international fairs in other countries, the sheer number of city-based exhibitions is overwhelming, making it a globally influential design week renowned for fostering creative expression beyond just furniture.





COLOR: A World Reimagined Through Color

Manufacturers known for their bold new releases have, in recent years, shifted focus. This year, a notable trend was the reduction in the number of new products, coupled with a renewed emphasis on timeless design reinterpreted through diverse color palettes. A prime example of this was showcased at the Fiera venue byVitra. Dutch designerHella Jongeriuslaunched the "Vitra Colour and Surface Library" in collaboration with Vitra, integrating a sophisticated color scheme into their products and exhibition design. While selecting colors might seem less challenging than architectural or product design, it is a crucial element that profoundly impacts a product's visual appeal. Vitra, a manufacturer renowned for producing iconic mid-century designs by

VitraCharles and Ray Eames, Jean Prouvé, and George Nelson, has redefined the perception of these classic pieces through this new color approach, moving them beyond their historical context.


The esteemed Nordic furniture brandArtekalso introduced new colorways for its iconic designs by Alvar Aalto and Ilmari Tapiovaara. Notably, they revived Ilmari Tapiovaara's "Lukki" chair series, offering it in vibrant colors such as white, red, yellow, and blue. Artek, which prioritizes manufacturing in its home country of Finland, demonstrated an ambition to create popular products comparable to the "Stool 60" while managing production costs. This approach of producing timeless yet innovative products at controlled costs was evident across many other designers and manufacturers.


Meanwhile, the Tortona district, once a focal point of Fuori Salone, has consistently been led by the prominent Dutch furniture brandmoooi. Founded in 2001 byMarcel Wandersand Casper Vissers, moooi made a significant impact with its bold designs. Marcel Wanders not only designed for moooi but also actively collaborated with emerging designers worldwide, consistently presenting innovative products. However, this momentum shifted after the Lehman shock, and moooi's exhibition space within the Superstudio also began to shrink. This year, however, marked a resurgence. Utilizing a vast 1,200 square meter space, moooi presented an overwhelming world view by mixing new creations with past products in 14 distinct interior stylings.





CURATION: The Growing Influence of Curation

Rossana Orlandiand Li Edelkoort, among other trendsetting curators, are actively promoting emerging designers by presenting their works within unique contexts, elevating them to new levels of value. While the focus was previously on individual designers, this year saw a notable increase in highlighting curators. This approach allows emerging designers' works to be evaluated not just individually but as part of a cohesive collection, creating more opportunities for them. The most striking exhibition was "Museo Bagatti Valsecchi 2.0 EXHIBITION," curated by Rossana Orlandi at the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum. This museum houses Renaissance-era (15th-16th century) paintings, sculptures, glass, weaponry, and armor. Displayed amidst such historical artifacts, the exhibited pieces needed to possess significant presence. Nacho Carbonell,Frederik Moller, Front, and Yukiko Nagai showcased works that exuded a powerful vitality, holding their own within this distinguished setting.


The exhibition "Juice," curated by the PR and consulting agency "PS," was a sensory and deeply engaging experience.Naoto Fukasawa, Bertjan Pot, Sam Baron, and Luca Nichetto were among the diverse international designers and manufacturers whose works were featured. As PS intended to convey a sense of chaos, the items were arranged randomly, irrespective of genre, size, or whether they were finished products or prototypes. This created an atmosphere akin to free-spirited jazz, sparking excitement about the unexpected discoveries.


Held at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology,MOSTwas one of the highlights of Fuori Salone. Curated by British designer Tom Dixon, it featured a diverse lineup of emerging manufacturers and designers from Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, and France, includingStellar Works, Studio Job, Piet Hein Eek, and Tokyo Design Project. The exhibition transformed the art and science-filled space, which also housed actual locomotives and aircraft, into a vibrant showcase.





CRAFT: Enhanced Sophistication in Craftsmanship

While the craft trend of recent years often highlighted the naive charm of handmade items, this year's offerings were notably more refined. This shift can be attributed to the decline of traditional crafts worldwide, which are often more expensive, necessitating added value through design and storytelling. As this approach became saturated, the focus moved towards designs that are uniquely achievable through specific regions, materials, and manufacturers, leading to an increase in sophisticated products. This trend is not limited to Japan. "Japan Handmade," featuring new works presented at the aforementioned MOST exhibition, showcased the compelling presence of "GO ON." GO ON is a creative unit comprising six heirs from long-established Japanese businesses, including Nishijin-ori textile manufacturerHosoo, Kana Tsuji, and Nakagawa Mokkougei. With Thomas Lick, former art director ofWallpaper* Magazine, serving as the creative director for Japan Handmade, they successfully introduced challenging new works by incorporating fresh perspectives into Japanese craftsmanship.


The "Wallpaper* Handmade" exhibition at Gallery Leclettico was another unmissable event in the craft domain. Launched in 2010 by the renowned British magazine "Wallpaper* Magazine," this was its fourth edition. The exhibition showcased a curated collection of unique and refined handcrafted items, commissioned from designers, artisans, and manufacturers worldwide. Participants included GO ON, Emmanuel Moreau, and Naoto Fukasawa.


nendocelebrated its 11th anniversary this year. Last year, they received the "Designer of the Year" award from Elle Decor International Design Awards, solidifying their position as top-tier designers globally, despite their relatively young status. This year, they presented new works across 20 venues. A particularly proud moment for me as a fellow Japanese was their solo exhibition at DILMOS, a long-standing gallery with roots in the postmodern era. Titled "Glasswork," this exhibition focused exclusively on nendo's glass creations. While their designs are often minimalist, many pieces ingeniously incorporate traditional craftsmanship.DILMOSat the DILMOS gallery, a prestigious venue with a history dating back to the postmodern era. Titled "Glasswork," this exhibition focused exclusively on nendo's glass creations. While their designs are often minimalist, many pieces ingeniously incorporate traditional craftsmanship.


The venue utilizing Rossana Orlandi's gallery and courtyard once again attracted a diverse array of designers and manufacturers. Many designers who have exhibited here have gone on to become star figures in the industry. Japanese participants includedKarimoku New Standard, SUS Gallery, and Tsunehisa Nakazawa, alongside participants from the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and South Korea. The courtyard, featuring a café, facilitated close interaction among exhibitors and visitors. The pieces selected by Rossana Orlandi often possess a tangible warmth and human touch.


HONEST: Unwavering Commitment to Craftsmanship

Amidst the hundreds of exhibitions at Milan Salone, one observation stands out: while trends are undeniable and important for marketing, excessive adherence can obscure a brand's core identity. Therefore, I wish to highlight three manufacturers who remain steadfast in their brand policies, unswayed by fleeting trends.Konstantin Grcic's latest chair for "EMECO" exemplifies this. It's a highly rational aluminum chair designed to minimize manual labor in its production process. This focus on the manufacturing process, not just the aesthetic design, is a crucial element.


Maruni Wood Industry's MARUNI COLLECTIONis one of the few Japanese furniture brands that consistently garners international attention. The designs by Naoto Fukasawa and Jasper Morrisonare characterized by their honest approach, balancing functionality such as comfort, lightness, and strength with an extreme reduction of superfluous elements. This results in ultimate "super normal" designs that transcend time.


MATTIAZZI, an Italian OEM manufacturer for 30 years, has evolved into an independent furniture brand under the direction of the Munich-based Studio Nitzan Cohen. MATTIAZZI, which explores the coexistence of machinery and craftsmanship, achieves 100% energy circulation through renewable sources like solar panels within its factory, offsetting the energy consumed in furniture production. Their commitment to environmental responsibility, beyond just creating high-quality products, is truly inspiring.





INSTALLATION: Creative Spatial Expressions

The creations seen at Milan Salone extend beyond new furniture designs; installation, or spatial design, plays a crucial role in enhancing these products. The space created by the Italian furniture brand "Moroso" at the Fiera venue was filled with ingenuity and vibrancy. Inspired by tangrams, a Chinese puzzle, they used colorful industrial belts threaded through ordinary wire mesh fences, commonly seen in urban environments, to craft an exciting and dynamic space.


De Padova presented new works by Luca Nichetto and Michele De Lucchi at their showroom in the city. The installation was designed by Malaysian artist Joan Tan. Kent paper printed with sketches and blueprints fluttered like wings, creating an illusion of being drawn into a giant model of the new products. While many exhibitors have recently opted for photos or videos to showcase the manufacturing process, this installation offered a different, dreamlike experience that captivated visitors.


Within the Superstudio, the heart of the Tortona district, Kaneka, a Japanese company typically known for its raw material manufacturing, presented a beautiful installation. This display conveyed the company's commitment to creativity and quality. A gentle slope led to a stage enveloped in mist, where the mechanical light of organic EL lighting created a surprisingly soft and delicate ambiance. It was a beautiful installation, evoking the image of sunlight piercing through morning mist.





Remarkable: Emerging Designers Not to Miss

To conclude, I would like to introduce emerging designers with the potential to become stars in the near future: the China-based design studio PINWU, Canadian designer Philipp Malouin who gained experience at Tom Dixon, and Mexican designer Laura Noriega. First, PINWU, a multinational trio from China, Germany, and Serbia, formed their unit after attending Milan Salone in 2010. They thoroughly researched the capabilities of Chinese artisans, whose technical skills are rapidly advancing, and developed an innovative concept using porcelain for tabletops.


Canadian designer Philipp Malouin possesses a remarkably international background. After graduating from Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands, ENSCI in France, and the University of Montreal in Canada, he apprenticed under Tom Dixon in London before establishing his own practice. His new work, "slats," features an accumulation of square timber pieces of the same size, forming both shelves and structure. This is excellent design that transforms simple elements into highly functional pieces.


Mexican designer Laura Noriega, who exhibited at Ventura Lambrate, has strong ties to Japanese craftsmanship. Her work was realized through collaboration with artisans from Miyazaki Mokugei and Hana Goza, as well as the Zuikou-gama kiln, known for its Kiyomizu-yaki pottery in Kyoto. It was astonishing to see how Mexican inspiration, combined with Japanese traditional crafts, resulted in such modern pieces. "Your Skin" is inspired by straw-like igusa (rushes), with the beautifully assembled wooden dowels featuring curved cutouts on their ends.